Little late to this party, I accept, but I've just finished the wonderful first season of "Ozark".
Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) launders money for the Mexican cartels and has done successfully for years. When his business partner is accused of skimming money off the top and murdered, Marty convinces the cartel that he has a plan to launder millions more of their money around the Ozark region of Missouri. Together with his wife Wendy (Laura Linney) and two children, they uproot to the region and Marty tries every trick he can think of to clean the money before the cartels deadline. But some of the residents don't take too kindly to the upheaval that Marty brings to their lives and businesses.
Filling that "Breaking Bad" shaped hole, "Ozark" is another series about a relatively good man, pushed into a bad situation and playing around at the limits of what he's prepared to do firstly to make money, and then to keep himself and his family safe. As with "Breaking Bad" the law only provide one of many threats to his continued safety, as the Cartel, generally taking the form of Esai Morales, in a typically charismatic performance, are a looming presence. But not his only one, a redneck family, led by Julia Garner (making another great career choice after being in "The Americans") have simple designs on stealing the money and potentially killing Marty to do so. Even more dangerous, the area of the Ozark's is already dominated by a criminal family, the Snell's, Heroine producers and who definitely don't appreciate the increased scrutiny that Bryde brings, as well as the disruption to their enterprise that he creates. This family is led by the always amazing Peter Mullan and Lisa Emery.
So yes, whilst the performances are great, the story is also excellent. It wisely doesn't try to recreate "Breaking Bad's" attempt to keep his criminal enterprise under wraps, the family are aware pretty much from the outset, and the people that he uses to launder the money either find out pretty quickly, or are recruited because they're amenable to it outright. There is a gnawing dread to the show and you can feel the various nooses tightening around Marty's neck. Jason Bateman really is wonderful, and his transformation into serious roles, along with new producing and directing roles is a revelation.
Can't wait to start season two.
